How much credit should the fly get?

[Andre]

How much does the success of fly fishing actually depend on the fly? My personal opinion, is that technique is by far the greater influencing factor when it comes to fly fishing. People with a poor technique , very often don't realise that they are fishing badly, and will very often opt for regular fly changes, thinking that the fly is the problem. When people report on a good days fishing, more often than not, the question asked of them, is, "what fly did you use?", instead of the technique of the tactics.
It would be interesting to hear from some experienced trout fishermen about technique versus fly.

[Shamwari]

How much does the success of fly fishing actually depend on the fly? My personal opinion, is that technique is by far the greater influencing factor when it comes to fly fishing. People with a poor technique , very often don't realise that they are fishing badly, and will very often opt for regular fly changes, thinking that the fly is the problem. When people report on a good days fishing, more often than not, the question asked of them, is, "what fly did you use?", instead of the technique of the tactics.
It would be interesting to hear from some experienced trout fishermen about technique versus fly.

Got nothing to do with the fly...it is all about the rod "fishing" well...

[Korrie]

Czech fly fisher motto " it is not the fly that catches the fish, but your hands and your brains"
French fly fisher motto " there is no magic fly, it is all in the drift"

[smallstreams.co.za]

All things being equal, I think a good fly will still outfish a bad fly. I'd like to think I have a holistic approach to fishing, so for me personally I would not like to separate fly, technique, presentation etc.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Czech fly fisher motto " it is not the fly that catches the fish, but your hands and your brains"
French fly fisher motto " there is no magic fly, it is all in the drift"

SA fisher motto "you still need the fly, period"

[Nepptune]

SA fisher motto "you still need the fly, period"

You beat me to it!! :-)

[Vicus]

Very relevant and interesting subject. I tend to agree that more often than not, the fly selection is not the biggest factor.

Yes ......there are occasions when fish are very preoccupied with feeding on something very specific. And especially when it is a hatch of very small insects, you either match the hatch or fail. But in such a case you need to match BOTH the appearance AND the behaviour of the insects. And sometimes it is close to impossible.

But, I believe for the most part fish are opportunists who will eat most things they identify as a potential meal. They are creatures of instinct. If you manage to trigger the feeding response, that is it, fish on. But nature has built some defensive mechanisms into the feeding instinct, that protects the fish from expending energy in pursuing a meal that is not really a meal, or may in fact be dangerous. And these defensive mechanisms is what we need to overcome.

Also there is the matter of the location of the fish. Sight-fishing solves the location problem. And that is one of the reasons why sight-fishing is so enticing. But sometimes we cannot sight-fish. Then we need to assess conditions to work out where the fish may be located. The bigger the body of water being fished, the more relevant this becomes. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes it is really hard. And I believe that when fishing "blind", quite a lot of energy is expended dragging a fly through waters where there are just no fish. Experience plays a huge role here.

I firmly believe that if our flies are:

1. Within feeding range
2. Very roughly approximates the appearance of a probable meal
3. Closely approximates the behaviour of a probable meal.
4. The fish is not scared, uncomfortable or "spooked" in any way

The fish will eat the fly in the vast majority of cases.

One thing to keep in mind is that "spooking" can take many forms. Just because a fish is not bolting in a cloud of mud, it does not always follow that the fish is in a feeding mood. It may be nervous or "apprehensive" even if it still hanging around.

So, yeah in my humble opinion, presentation and technique far outweighs the appearance of the fly. And even knowing this, I still probably change flies too often.

[Andre]

Yes... but you also still need the right technique... period.
If all things being equal, (as you put it), what is more important? Will a bad fly with a good technique, outfish a good fly with a poor technique?

SA fisher motto "you still need the fly, period"

[JadeDsantos]

I dont believe its either or all the time. It changes from day to day. I have watched my fiance drag a sunken RAB across the surface and catch a ton of fish with no help from. I have had flies rejected on good drifts and flies eaten on bad drifts. I have watched complete amateurs on the streams and stillwaters have great success not knowing what the hell they were doing. Opposed to me, who likes to think he knows what he's doing, not catching anything at all. The only thing I am sure of, is that I am not sure of anything. The one thing I do know though, is flyfisherman love discussing this stuff! Ha ha ha ha

There are two things I always mention when people ask, what flies should they use for the NEC? I fish certain flies there because of the flies qualities and not because of their fish catching abilities. Hoppers, ants and beetles, because there are so many fish hitting dries I hate having to redress and dry the flies all the time and foam its much more practical. Nymphs are mostly the same with different colour dubbing, some with flash some without and then cdc collars. Maybe a few bombs like the gun to get down if the water is pumping. But otherwise, nothing fancy, because I mostly tie them while drinking in the evening around the fire talking crap with friends. The other thing is there are so many fish in Rhodes and they have to eat or someone else will so they wont be incredibly picky I have found, maybe the one hog who wont eat, but you will always catch fish. NZ would be a totally different story though.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Yes... but you also still need the right technique... period.

That's why I said you can't have one without the other (holistic, look it up).

If all things being equal, (as you put it), what is more important? Will a bad fly with a good technique, outfish a good fly with a poor technique?

Well, in the context of all things other than the fly being equal I am fully confident that a good fly (size, colour, proportion, weight etc) will outfish a bad fly.